Surgical saw blade

Abstract

The saw blade comprising a bar and a blade. The distal end of the bar formed with a distal end opening and a discharge port formed in at least one of the top and bottom faces that opens into the distal end opening, the discharge port for discharging debris. The bar is formed with a geometric feature for receiving a coupling member to hold the bar to the saw, the geometric feature being an opening that extends through the bar. The blade having a blade base disposed in the distal end opening of the bar and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of the distal end of the bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A saw blade for use with a saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a bar having opposed top and bottom faces, and a distal end formed with a distal end opening and a discharge port formed in at least one of the top and bottom faces that opens into the distal end opening, the discharge port for discharging debris, 
 wherein the bar is formed with a geometric feature for receiving a coupling member to hold the bar to the saw, the geometric feature being an opening that extends through the bar; and 
 a blade having a blade base disposed in the distal end opening of the bar and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of the distal end of the bar, said blade base being dimensioned to oscillate in the distal end opening relative to the bar. 
 
     
     
       2. The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge port is further defined as a plurality of discharge ports that open into the distal end opening. 
     
     
       3. The saw blade of  claim 2 , wherein the bar comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in the lower plate. 
     
     
       4. The saw blade of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports are symmetrically located about a longitudinal axis of the lower plate. 
     
     
       5. The saw blade of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports open are formed in a section of the lower plate that is subtended by the blade base. 
     
     
       6. The saw blade of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end opening is between the lower plate and the upper plate. 
     
     
       7. The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge port is approximately in the shape of an oval. 
     
     
       8. The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the blade base is pivotally mounted to the bar. 
     
     
       9. The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the blade base defines a window. 
     
     
       10. The saw blade of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive link that extends proximally from the blade base. 
     
     
       11. The saw blade of  claim 10 , wherein the drive link is a drive rod. 
     
     
       12. The saw blade of  claim 1 , the bar comprising an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein the lower plate has a proximally located base that is generally in the form of a trapezoid. 
     
     
       13. A saw blade for use with a saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a bar having opposed top and bottom faces and defining a void space therebetween, the bar further defining a discharge port that opens to the void space defined by the bar and is configured for discharging debris that enters the void space; and 
 a blade having a blade base disposed in the void space and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of a distal end of the bar, the blade crown including teeth, the teeth having a thickness greater than the bar, and the blade base being dimensioned to oscillate in the void space. 
 
     
     
       14. The saw blade of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge port is further defined as a plurality of discharge ports that open to the void space. 
     
     
       15. The saw blade of  claim 14 , wherein the bar comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in the lower plate. 
     
     
       16. The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports are symmetrically located about a longitudinal axis of the lower plate. 
     
     
       17. The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in a section of the lower plate that is subtended by the blade base. 
     
     
       18. The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the void space is between the lower plate and the upper plate. 
     
     
       19. The saw blade of  claim 13 , wherein the blade base is pivotally mounted to the bar. 
     
     
       20. The saw blade of  claim 13 , wherein the blade base defines a window and wherein the blade base is formed so that the window is wholly enclosed within the blade base. 
     
     
       21. The saw blade of  claim 13 , further comprising a drive link that extends proximally from the blade base. 
     
     
       22. A saw blade for use with a saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a bar comprising:
 an upper plate and a lower plate defining opposed top and bottom faces and a distal end opening formed at a distal end of the bar; and 
 one of the upper or lower plates defining a discharge port for discharging debris, 
 wherein the bar is formed with a geometric feature for receiving a coupling member to hold the bar to the saw, the geometric feature being an opening that extends through the bar; and 
 
 a blade having a blade base and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of a distal end of the bar, the blade base being disposed between the upper and lower plates. 
 
     
     
       23. The saw blade of  claim 22 , wherein the discharge port is further defined as a plurality of discharge ports. 
     
     
       24. The saw blade of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in the lower plate, and wherein the plurality of discharge ports are symmetrically located about a longitudinal axis of the lower plate. 
     
     
       25. The saw blade of  claim 22 , the blade crown including teeth, the teeth having a thickness greater than the bar. 
     
     
       26. The saw blade of  claim 22 , wherein the blade base is dimensioned to oscillate within the bar. 
     
     
       27. The saw blade of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in a section of the lower plate that is subtended by the blade base. 
     
     
       28. A saw blade for use with a saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a bar having opposed top and bottom faces, and a distal end formed with a distal end opening and a plurality of discharge ports formed in at least one of the top and bottom faces that opens to a void space defined between the top and bottom faces, the plurality of discharge ports for discharging debris; 
 wherein the bar is formed with a geometric feature for receiving a coupling member to hold the bar to the saw, the geometric feature being an opening that extends through the bar; and 
 a blade having a blade base disposed in the distal end opening of the bar and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of the distal end of the bar, wherein the blade base defines a window and the window is whollly enclosed within the blade base. 
 
     
     
       29. The saw blade of  claim 28 , wherein the bar comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein the plurality of discharge ports are formed in the lower plate, and wherein the plurality of discharge ports are symmetrically located about a longitudinal axis of the lower plate. 
     
     
       30. The saw blade of  claim 29 , wherein the blade base is pivotally mounted to the bar.